President Trump has unveiled his budget for the 2020 Fiscal Year (FY), and it appears that Medicare cuts are on the horizon. The budget has already been sent to the United States Congress and is currently awaiting their approval.
The proposed budget is already creating quite a buzz, and rightfully so. People are worried that budget cuts in 2020 seem to disproportionately affect America’s most vulnerable populations, seniors and low-income individuals and families.
While the proposed Medicare cuts for 2020 are still awaiting approval, we’re still going to highlight some of the most concerning and important pieces of the proposal.
Some of the biggest cuts proposed by the President are to the Medicare program. Trump Medicare cuts would amount to more than $500 billion over the course of the next decade. These cuts are, on paper, only supposed to have an impact on providers. The proposal, while not set in stone, is that providers would receive fewer dollars in an effort to cut down on fraud and overcharging Medicare.
How do Trump Medicare cuts affect the beneficiaries of Medicare?
The Trump Medicare cuts would have a big impact on the wallets of those relying on Medicare for their health coverage. Trump cutting Medicare means seniors and the disabled would have to pay more out-of-pocket for the procedures and prescriptions that are already administered and approved by Medicare.
During his 2016 bid for the presidency, Trump promised to protect senior needs. By proposing, and trying to pass what will now be known as the Trump Medicare cuts 2020, he is going back on that very campaign promise. The proposed Trump Medicare cuts 2020 would have the biggest impact on the senior's finances. While it is aimed at the practitioners, the Trump Medicare cuts will also affect those who rely on Medicare for their health.
There will undoubtedly be a lengthy debate in Congress regarding the FY 2020 budget. Trump cutting Medicare is not expected to see the light of day. There are many in Congress who care about their senior constituents.
For FY 2019, Trump asked for similar cuts to the Medicare budget. Congress saw to in that Trump Medicare cuts for FY 2019 did not see the light of day. There are many reasons Trump Medicare cuts for FY 2019 did not come to light. The biggest reason is that those who depend on Medicare for their insurance are lower and middle-class senior citizens. To approve Trump Medicare cuts is to hurt this population. Many in Congress were understanding of the senior population and did not approve the Medicare cuts for 2019.
The Trump Administration cut $2 trillion from the Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security budget in 2018. These were the most impactful budget cuts so far by the Trump Administration.
When the Trump Administration made cuts to these 3 government programs, it impacted more than 50 million residents of the US. There are over 50 million people who depend on Social Security each month to pay their bills. Many of those who draw from Social Security are also depending on Medicare to provide their health care. Some are dependent on both Medicare and Medicaid.
Here is where President Trump is going to reallocate the funds taken from the Medicare program. He plans to divert the money into the defense and Homeland Security departments. Yes, unfortunately for those dependent on Medicare for their health care, this means his border wall at the southern border of the US. The Department of Homeland Security would also receive some of the diverted funds. Another department going to get funds once allocated for Medicare is the Department of Defense. Also, the budget for NASA will be increasing if Trump's FY 2010 budget comes to light.
If the Trump cuts for the budget year 2020 take effect, everyone will be impacted in some way. It is especially going to affect the elderly, disabled, and low-income persons who rely on Medicare and all the services provided by it.
There are those who support Trump's decision to reallocate the Medicare funds to the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security. However, it comes at a price, impacting those who need help the most. Trump’s proposed budget cuts, if passed, will likely result in higher out-of-pocket spending for seniors and Medicare beneficiaries.
